Port of Kiel Now Powers Seven Vessels Simultaneously

The Port of Kiel in Germany can now provide shore power to seven ships at once, making it the most extensive and advanced system of its kind in Europe. The infrastructure is designed to serve three cruise ships and four ferries simultaneously.

Last week, a new shore power plant was inaugurated at the Ostseekai Terminal, enabling two cruise ships to connect to the port’s power grid. This adds to the previously existing facility at the Ostuferhafen terminal, which had the capacity to supply one vessel.

The construction of the Ostseekai system was carried out in partnership with Stemmann, Siemens, Inros Lackner, and PowerCon. With this addition, Kiel’s port can now accommodate seven ships drawing electricity from shore connections at the same time.

The project received financial support from Germany’s federal government, the state of Schleswig-Holstein, and the European Union. Dr. Dirk Claus, Managing Director of SEEHAFEN KIEL GmbH, noted that €50 million has been invested in the port’s shore power program. He added that emissions from port operations have already been cut by 60%, with the goal of reaching an 80% reduction in vessel-related emissions by 2026.